Hottest year on record. Extreme drought, wildfires, and floods. Desperate scientists, declining wildlife, and rampant waste. The scale of the climate crisis can be overwhelming.
And when it comes to taking serious action, politicians move at a glacial pace, further hindering progress as the possibility of Donald Trump becoming president again becomes very real. There is a possibility that
Even in the face of such challenges, there is hope to be found. Real change often happens first at the local level: in our homes, backyards, and communities.
In an election year, we know that many US readers are frustrated by the lack of meaningful action in the US and globally on global warming, but from waste and overconsumption to rising prices. We wanted to hear from people across the board who are creating unique solutions to the environmental challenges we face. Food and energy costs, extreme heat and drought.
In February, we launched a call for readers in the US to tell us about their own DIY solutions. There was a lively response, with dozens of people writing in about their efforts. In this series you will meet some of them. You'll also meet inspiring people who are turning their gardens into small farms, starting free clothing swaps, planning zero-waste weddings, and inventing energy-saving devices. Sho.
This series will run throughout the year and we're looking for more DIY projects to feature. We welcome input from a wide variety of people and communities. No project is too small. We want to feature stories from the western and southwestern United States, where problems like drought, wildfires, extreme heat, and air pollution are worst, but we welcome stories from anywhere in the country.
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Want to share your story? Please send an email to diyclimate@theguardian.com. Please tell us a little about yourself, your project, why you started it, and the impact it has had. Please leave your contact details.If you would like to know more, one of our reporters will contact you